About Level

Mission & Vision

We are a Canadian charitable organization that levels barriers to justice by disrupting prejudice, building empathy and advancing human rights.

We envision a world where every person is treated with dignity, can exercise their fundamental human rights, and has the opportunity to thrive.

Why Us Why Now?

Unlike education and health care, inequitable access to justice and its devastating impacts are not well understood by the Canadian public. Creating access to justice for all is a complex endeavour. It requires more than just the keys to a courtroom. Transforming the justice sector requires the collective effort of an empowered and empathetic society.

We believe that if our communities are empowered to understand, shape, and use the law then they can become active participants in breaking down barriers to justice.

We also believe that if our legal professionals have empathy and cultural humility, we can disrupt prejudice and create a justice system that serves the people who need it the most.

Values

Integrity

We believe in transparency, accountability, and honouring every stakeholder. We are accountable to the communities we aim to serve and are committed to following best practices for charitable organizations.

Dignity

Inclusion is only possible with respect and humility. We listen to, respect, and empower our communities, building confidence and curiosity so that society gains from their contributions.

Diversity

Fairness requires the input of many. We build bridges by connecting a wide range of people and cultures to make a tangible difference.

Impact

Over 90% of donations support our nationwide programming.

Since 2005, we have supported the critical and often groundbreaking work of 42 human rights organizations in 18 countries.

We have provided 150+ law students with international, research-based, or Indigenous social justice internships.

We have 8 Chapters at law schools across Canada raising awareness about human rights and access to justice issues.

Founders

Co-founders Catherine McKenna and Yasmin Shaker started Canadian Lawyers Abroad - Avocats canadiens à l’étranger (CLA-ACE) in 2005 with a simple goal: to engage the Canadian legal community to positively change lives in Canada and abroad. CLA-ACE originated from the idea that Canadian legal professionals have a specific set of skills, and given the opportunity, can uniquely benefit and support communities in need.

In September 2015, CLA-ACE became Level (Égaliser), which marked an important milestone in the growth and development of our organization. ‘Level’ captures our long history of combating injustice, promoting equality in rights and opportunities, and changing lives through law.